Plans for ‘massive’ increase in parking fees   02/01/2008

The proposed rises have been highlighted in a letter from the council’s transportation manager to councillors which outlines plans to review the charges in council-controlled public car parks.

The letter states that car park charges in the county were last reviewed in 2003, and says: “It is now considered to be appropriate to undertake a review in accordance with the approach outlined in the countywide car parking strategy and to take into account of inflation over the intervening period”.

At Ross town’s Corn Exchange, Crossfields, Edde Cross Street, Red Meadow and The Maltings, proposed increases are 40p for one hour (up from 30p), 70p for two hours (60p), £1 for three hours (90p), £1.40p for four hours (£1.20) and £2.80 for over four hours (£2.50). And season tickets at Edde Cross Street could increase from £150 to £165 a year and from £160 to £175 at Red Meadow.

Providing details for current and proposed schedules in Hereford and the market towns, the letter tells councillors: “The Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation (Councillor Brian Wilcox) has approved these in principle, and asked that you be provided with details of the proposed revised charges for information and comment”.

The letter asks councillors for a reply by Thursday, January 2, and Lib Dem group leader Councillor Terry James told the Journal: “It is scandalous that residents who are paying record prices for fuel, heating costs, higher mortgage and interest rates and another above inflation council tax increase on the way are now to be asked to pay these massive increases in charges.

Most of the accessible car parks in Herefordshire were having an increase of between 33% and 100% in their charges, he said. “The Conservative administration have tried to hide the scale of the increases by not increasing them on a tiny number of remote car parks, and therefore suggesting that not all parking has been substantially increased.